Miami Hurricanes TE David Njoku Picked 29th by Cleveland Browns
Like former Miami Hurricanes tight end legend Kellen Winslow Jr, David Njoku was selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Draft.
Njoku was the third tight end taken in the draft. OJ. Howard from Alabama went 19th to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Evan Engram from Mississippi went 23rd to the New York Giants.
The Browns moved up to 29th in a trade with Green Bay to take Njoku. They gave up the 33rd (Second round pick) and (fourth) 108th picks to move up. Njoku joins top overall draft pick Myles Garrett and Jabril Peppers as Browns first round draft picks this season.
He also becomes the fifth Miami tight end to be taken in the first round since 2000. Jimmy Graham with Seattle and Greg Olsen with Carolina are among the Miami tight ends currently in the NFL. Njoku will join former Miami star running back Duke Johnson on the Browns.
Njoku was one of Miami’s top playmakers last season. He finished the season with 43 receptions for 698 yards and eight touchdowns. That was up from 21 receptions for 342 yards and one touchdown in his redshirt freshman season.
At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.64 40 yard dash, had a vertical jump of 37.5″ and went 11’1 in the broad jump. Appearing on the ESPN show Sports Science he also high jumped 6’4. He was a national champion in the high jump during high school.
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He goes to a Cleveland Browns team that finished 1-15 last season. Their passing game was nearly inept. They finished 28th in yards and 30th in passing touchdowns.
Njoku will compete with starter Gary Barnidge for playing time. Barnidge had 55 receptions for 612 yards and two touchdowns last season.
The question of who will be throwing him the football remains. Cleveland’s current depth chart at Quarterback is Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan and Brock Osweiler.
Njoku is still very young. He will not turn 21 until July. ESPN’s resident draft expert Mel Kiper Jr is very high on Njoku’s ceiling.
"“He has the size and athleticism (37½-inch vertical and 11-foot-1 broad jump at the combine) to run past and jump over defenders…He could be an All-Pro.”"
Njoku is a quick learner according to Hurricanes Special Teams coach Todd Hartley:
"“What he was doing was he was watching, he was listening,” Hartley told USA TODAY Sports in a phone call. “He is an unbelievable learner at seeing something. He’s so visual that he didn’t have to take notes. He saw it and went out to the field and applied it and did it.”"
He’s also a hard worker. USA Today discussed Njoku’s study habits in their draft profile of him.
"“For the better part of this past year, Njoku watched and scrutinized film of the great Miami tight ends of the past: Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham, Kellen Winslow, Clive Walford. Then he cued up tape from his own one-on-one battles in practice, put the clips in slow mo, and analyzed every aspect of his hand placement, route running, catching, footwork.”"
Njoku compares favorably to Olsen and Graham. He should be a great receiver for the Browns down the seam. Olsen and Graham have been to multiple pro bowls. Both were in better situations than Njoku will be in.
Next: Where are the Miami Hurricanes Likely to Go in NFL Draft?
Hopefully, the Browns will be able to get a Quarterback in the draft. As is stands now, he’s the most naturally gifted receiver the Browns have unless wide receiver Josh Gordon gets reinstated.